Immortality is a common trait found in fictional characters, especially those in the fantasy or sci-fi genre. If you're choosing a character for cosplay, you may want to be immortal. Choose a character that's immortal and adopt a style and wardrobe from a long ago era. You should also behave in a mysterious fashion, as if you have a secret. Once you've nailed the basics, pretending to be immortal can be a fun way to participate in cosplay.

Steps

Method1

Assembling Your Outfit

1

Select a specific character. While you can certainly cosplay as your own original character, you can also choose an immortal character from a popular television, film, or book franchise. If you don't want to completely take on that character, you can at least make a look inspired by a popular immortal being.[1]

Doctor Who, a character that's had many iterations over the years, is one of the most popular immortal characters in television. Try modeling you look after your favorite doctor.

If you're a fan of Watchmen, consider going as the immortal Dr. Manhattan.

Game of Thrones is becoming increasingly popular for cosplayers, and the character Melisandre is heavily implied to be immortal or, at least, she has lived an unnaturally long lifespan.

2

Choose an era. When you're playing an immortal character, you don't want to go too broad. If you're trying to emulate many different eras at once, this can be confusing. Instead, pick a specific era. You can pretend your character was born during this time and somehow became immortal.

It's best to choose a time period from at least 100 years ago. Choosing something like the 1960s may not read as immortal.

Think about history classes you've taken. Which eras were you most interested in? You can be a character from Victorian times, Medieval times, or any other era that interests you.

3

Dress in old-fashioned clothing from your chosen era. Research clothing fashions of your chosen time period online. Many websites cover the history of fashion through the ages, so it should be fairly easy to find guidelines on how to dress. You can shop for old clothing online, at a costume shop, or at a local vintage shop.[2]

For example, say your character is from the mid-1800s. During this time, women wore longer, somewhat tight-fitting dresses with long, flowing skirts. Men wore single-breasted jackets with trousers.

You don't have to dress in a fashion that completely fits with an era. Try modern spins on past fashions and act uncomfortable. For example, wear a longer, tighter dress that has a Victorian flare, but is a bit more revealing. Awkwardly try to cover up as you act in character.

4

Choose an old-fashioned hair style. Look up the types of hairstyles that were popular during a given decade. For example, from the 1500s to 1700's, men often wore powdered wigs. You could adopt this into your look.[3]

If you're going with a Victorian era character, hair was usually pulled back to reveal the ears and usually curled slightly on top.[4]

In Victorian times, men's hair was kept short and neat. If your hair is on the longer side, get a trim or wear a wig if you want to emulate a Victorian man.[5]

5

Add some dated accessories. Stop by a local vintage shop and pick up some old-fashioned accessories. You can also shop for old accessories online. If you don't want to have your costume completely reflect a different era, carrying a few dating accessories while wearing modern clothing can be a subtle indication your character's from a different time.

Spectacles tied onto a string and pocket watches were popular accessories of the past. Try carrying these around to look immortal.[6]

If you're going for early American as your time period, try wearing a bonnet over your head.

Go for an old-fashioned looking hat, like a Stetson hat, to give off the old fashioned look.

Method2

Talking in an Old-Fashioned Manner

1

Use dated slang. Look up some old-fashioned slang terms from centuries past. Work them into daily conversation and, if someone doesn't understand, explain the phrase. Say something like, "My apologies. They used that a lot in my time."[7]

The phrase "Don't sell me a dog" use to mean, "Don't lie to me."

Use the phrase "Take the egg" to describe winning something.

Refer to an umbrella as a "rain napper."

2

Develop a slight accent. As an immortal, you may very well be from a different country or era. Try to incorporate a slight accent from your chosen time period.

If you're American, try to add a slight British or French speech pattern to your pronunciation.

Make dated references. Look up some older movies, books, and music from your era. Read up on what was big in pop culture at that time period. Instead of making modern pop cultural references, drop in references to culture of the past.

For example, if you're from the 1920s, make references to old vampire movies like Nosferatu instead of modern vampire franchises like Twilight.[8]

Method3

Staying In Character

1

Invent a backstory to explain your immortality. If you're doing your own character, you should decide how you became immortal. You can work in subtle hints to the source of your immortality throughout conversations. Draw from various myths around the world about the source of immortality to craft your story.[9]

In 475 BCE, Chinese alchemists believed a particular brand of mushroom could help you achieve immorality. You can make references to "that cursed mushroom" and how you "never should have ate it at all."

Elixirs of life have been crafted throughout the ages, containing ingredients like mercury and arsenic. Make references to a drink containing these ingredients. For example, "I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for just the right combination of mercury and arsenic."

2

Act like you have special knowledge. If you're immortal, you may be more insightful than others. As you've seen so much over the years, you may be more adept at figuring out how certain events are likely to pan out. Do things like predict the endings of movies and make comments on human behavior.[10]

Act unaffected or unsurprised in conversation. Maintain a neutral tone, no matter how people react, as you've seen it all before as an immortal being.

Say things like, "I've seen this same story play out close to a million times by now. It no longer surprises me."

3

Reference old events in great detail. Brush up on your history or, at the very least, get a wistful look in your eye when somebody brings it up. Study up on the history of the era your character comes from and pretend like you witnessed historical events. Recall them in great detail, adding your own fictional accounts of conversations that occurred during an ancient battle, for example.

For example, say you're pretending you were on the Titanic. Read some books and watch some documentaries about the Titanic and make reference to details of the ship using a lot of specifics.

Talk about things like personally experiencing a long ago historical event. For example, talk about the day you got the news Abraham Lincoln had been assassinated.

4

Act somewhat withdrawn. If you're immortal, you likely lost many friends over the years. Therefore, it's natural your character may be a little withdrawn and isolated. Try to be quiet much of the time and shy away from attempts at friendship.[11]

Shy off from physical contact. If another player offers a hug, for example, give a cold handshake instead.

Say things like, "These relationships with others always have an expiration date. I try not to get attached."

Community Q&A

Should I always have one kind of drink or food that I am always eating and carrying with me?

wikiHow Contributor

It depends on whether or not that would be something your character would do. If you're trying to be a vampire, then at a restaurant you can ask for rare meat since there is some blood still in the meat. If you're just trying to be an immortal being, try not to be hungry all the time, most immortal beings don't have to eat. However, immortal beings would probably delight in the flavors and taste of foods still and are definitely going to want to fit in, so as not to be noticed by others as being too different, so they'd eat anyway.

Probably, they won't mention it, as they'll think it's just part of your personality. If they ask questions, you can say you're doing it as a prank or just for fun. Maybe they'd even like to play along!

Is it appropriate at my funeral to have someone say (or show a recording of me saying) that it was all just a joke?

Trivia_lover

I wouldn't think so. If you had a fake funeral, this would be fine, but at an actual funeral, wounds can be inflicted. It's best not to rub salt into these wounds and call the death of a loved one a joke. Some people may be able to handle it, but others can take it more seriously. In general, I would advise against jokes on death.

Tips

Talk about how you wonder what the next century will bring and how you are looking forward to it. Make sure it's only a passing comment. Talk about how good it is you don't have to deal with smelly peasants any more.

If you get something wrong in history, frown and mutter "Nobody gets anything right. Books have it all wrong."

Warnings

When talking about people who lived in the past, be careful not to make it sound like you knew the person unless you're a top rate story-teller with all the facts down perfectly.